Signal data sought at Miramar Parkway, Dykes Road

Q: Construction at Interstate 75 and Miramar Parkway is finished, but why can't they increase the green light for drivers headed west on Miramar at Dykes Road, which is just west of I-75? All the project did was cause traffic to back up on I-75. Increasing the green light by an additional 15 seconds from 4-6 p.m. weekdays would alleviate most of the congestion.

Brian Tewes, Miramar

A: The Florida Department of Transportation reconstructed and added signals to the ramps from northbound I-75 to eastbound Miramar and from southbound I-75 to westbound Miramar.

With that work out of the way, Broward County traffic engineers are collecting traffic data and developing and testing signal timing patterns at Miramar and Dykes and adjacent intersections.

"We are already seeing improvements in traffic flow for peak afternoon traffic and will continue to monitor and refine signal coordination in the area through November," said Ed Davis, assistant director of the county's Traffic Engineering Division.

Q: We always take Florida's Turnpike to Interstate 595 to get to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. But with all the construction taking place on I-595, which is the best way to get there? I-95 or the turnpike?

A: The I-595 construction zone starts just west of I-95 and stretches west to I-75 and includes the turnpike's approaches to I-595. All lanes are open during the day.

If you take the turnpike, the ramp to I-595 has temporarily shifted north about one mile. As you pass the Peters Road overpass, which is south of the Sunrise Boulevard exit, the off-ramp to I-595 splits away from the turnpike. The ramp parallels the turnpike until you get to the actual interchange.

The ramp was moved to allow for construction of two bridges that will link I-595's reversible express lanes to the median of the turnpike.

If you do miss the I-595 off-ramp, you can always take the next exit at Griffin Road, which is about a mile further south, and head east on Griffin to the airport.

Q: For almost two months, orange barricades have blocked the turn lane on eastbound Hollywood Boulevard to the Tri-Rail station and to northbound Interstate 95. It appears the barricades are just sitting there and not serving a single purpose during the week. I guess it's needed for weekend detours and closures at Hollywood and I-95 but then when the weekend is over, the barricades are just left there. Please help us.

Shauna Di Bella, Hollywood

A:The barricades blocking the entrance to the turn lane have been removed.

The only barricades that remain are in the left turn lanes from Hollywood to the northbound and southbound on-ramps, as part of ongoing work to widen the I-95 overpass for express lanes.